cleveland



@nite-'l .tarts @anni ffice c. H. CLEVELAND, or sn'LMin ALABAMA.

` Leners Para; No. 69,629, dated omais, 1867.

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TG ALL WHOM MAY CONCERN:

Beit known thatI, C. H, CLEVELAND, of Selma, Dallas county, Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined ShouldenBrace and Suspender; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear,- iind exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, and tothe letters of reference marked theren, making part of the same, in which- Figure 1 is a side perspective view, ,clearly showing my entire invention. Figure 2 shows a pair of Suspenders made after my invention, and illustrates how they are applied and worn. Figure 3 is arear and side perspective view, illustratingmy invention when intended for ladies use. Figure 4 shows how the above is applied and worn.

vThe object of myfiny'ention is to so combine shoulder-braces and Suspenders by a simple and practical arrangement, that, while thepantaloons or'other article of dress are securely supported, the same is done in such a'manner as to throwthe body forward and cause it to occupy a perpendicular position.

Anpther great advantage possessed` by my invention 4is this: The shoulder-straps not only pass in the rear' 0f,the lungs, but at thesame time are united together at apoint in such a manner as to form a fork, said fork being suiiiciently far benath'the arm-pit to render it impossible forthe straps to be brought in such close con..

tact with the cavity orlindex'- por'tioi of the armas to impede in any degree, 11o-matter how slight, thefrieest circulation and respiration. -It will be observed that my invention relieves the breast and' hips from pressure entirely, and` causes the same to rest solely upon and be borne by the upper portion of' theshoulder-blades. The point at which l attach the Suspenders' to the pantaloons or other article of dress is immediately above the hips, and in the direct line which extends from the centre of the hollow under the shoulder' to the foot. The 'shoulder-straps cross each other a. short distance below the neck, and where vthe shoulder-blades meet.

To'attai the results accomplished by my invention has long been considered a great desideratum, and many attempts have been made to secure the samefbut they have all proved unsuccessful. They have either been s o complicated as to render `them entirely impractieable, or else constructed with bands passing across midway either the breast or back, in such manner that circulation is materially interfered with, defeating in the most important feature the object sought after and accomplished by my invention, e., securing the lungs entirely free from all pressure. v

To enable others skilled -in the art 'to make and use my invention Ifw'ill proceed to describe its construction Aand operation.

A A are two pieces of leather or other suitable material of lozenge, diamond,lor other convenientform. In these pieces A A, I cut three openings, a andib the openings b b being nearly at right angles to each other. In the opening a I secure -a short side strap, B, and to the openings b b I attach the shoulder-straps C C. These straps B and C C are constructed .of elastic webbing or other suitable material. 0n the shoulderA straps C C, I arrange sliding buckles c e, one in each,by means of which I am enabled to lengthen or shorten the straps C C as occasion requires. To the band d of thel pantaloon`s-D, or other article of dress that it is desired to support, I attach twobuttons e e, or other suitable fastenings. These buttons e e are secured to the bandd at such points that when the pantaloons or skirts D are adjusted to the form of the wearer the buttons c e will be immediately above the hips. To the buttons e e, I attach my combined shoulder-brace and suspender by means of the side straps B B in which are arranged button-holes ff.

Thus it will bc observed that my entire invention consists in so arranging, in combination with two pieces of leather, A A, the shoulder-straps C C' and side straps B, that the article of dress is securely and coml fortably supported without the intervention of brace-straps, either in fron-t or in the rear, or any other device whatever. The connecting ofthe shoulder-straps `together by braee-straps is most objectionable, for it matters not whether they pass across the breast or back, they of necessity interfere with the circulation, and whenever they pass over the lungs, causing pressure to rest upon the same, they impede the respiration a degree nearly asv'great as do the old style of suspender-s, which experience has long siuce'demonstrated that personsA threatened with consumption or other lung involvement cannot safely wear. And again it will b e observed that my device leaves the cavityunder the ar'in free from all pressure. VIn all other contrivances of a character similar to my. invention the shoulder-straps. are caused to form a loop under -the arm-pit, which is most objectionable.

In order to adapt my invention for ladies' wear a modification of a slight character is necessary. To the shoulder-straps C C, at the point they cross when in use, I attach by means of e loop a back strap, E The device is then applied in the following manner: To the strap d of the hoop or outer skirt D, I attach three buttons, two in the manner before described, and one immediately in the rear. '.lo the under skirts I attach Suitable loops which pass over these buttons, and my invention is then applied.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The suspender or shoulder-brace composed of two single straps C C, each passing from its attaching strap at the one side over the shoulder to the attaching strap on the other side of the body, substantially as herein described.

In testimony wheveofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

e. n. CLEVELAND.

Witnesses:

JOHN D. BLoon, WM. R. SINGLETON. 

